Setting apparatus for textile fabrics



Oct. 19, 1948. H. RICHTER 2,451,978

7 I SETTING APPARATUS FOR TEXTILE FABRICS Filed June 21, 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 19, 1948. H. RICHTER SETTING APPARATUS FOR TEXTILE FABRICS Filed June 21, 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 28 INVENTOR.

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SETTING APPARATUS FOR TEXTILE FABRICS Filed June 21, 1946 v 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

Oct. 19, 1948. H. RICHTER SETTING APPARATUS FOR TEXTILE FABRICS 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed June 21 1946 Oct-l9, 1948. H. RICHTER 2,

SETTING APPARATUS FOR TEXTILE. msmcs Filed June 21; 1946' i a Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V E .'N TOR.

H. RICHTER SETTING APPARATUS FOR TEXTILE FABRICS s Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed June 21, 1946 IN V EN TOR.

Patented Oct. 19, 1948 SETTING APPARATUS FOR TEXTILE FABRICS Henry Richter, Kankakee, Ill., assignor to Paramount Textile Machinery Co., Kankakee, Ill a corporation of Illinois Application June 21, 1946, Serial No. 678,231

21 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in setting apparatus for textile fabrics and its purpose is to provide means for setting and shaping stockings and other fabrics formed by knitting linear condensation polyamide fibres such as those known by the name of nylon. The present invention is adapted to perform a cycle of operations somewhat similar to that performed by the horizontal type of apparatus described and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 581,210, filed March 6, 1945, now abandoned, but by the use of apparatus which is much more simple and capable of being manufactured at a much lesser cost.

Shaped textile articles formed from nylon yarn, such as hosiery, are commonly subjected to a so-called presetting operation on forms of the required shapes in the presence of saturated steam for the purpose of reducing the resiliency of the knitted loops and removing the natural wrinkles of the loose fabric, thereby causing the articles to retain the shapes of the forms during subsequent washing and use. The hosiery or other articles may be either dyed or of natural color when subjected to this presetting treatment which is carried on at a high temperature, preferably of from 240 Fahrenheit to 260 Fahrenheit, for a limited period and at a pressure above that of the atmosphere, thus necessitating the use of a closed chamber inwhich the articles are contained during the operation.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide apparatus of the type referred to comprising a vertical retort having an upright door which is held in closed position by its internal steam pressure during treatment and which carries on its opposite sides two sets of forms for the fabric articles so that one set of. forms carrying hosiery or other articles may be on the inside of the door within the retort for treatment'at the same time that the preboarding operations are being carried on outside of the retort on the other set of forms. Another object of the invention is to provide setting apparatus comprising a door having two sets of forms located on opposite sides thereof for supporting articles to be treated, said door being'mounted for rotation about a vertical axis which is bodily movable with respect to the door opening so that by a combination of rotary and linear movements the door may be reversed in its position to permit locating the sets of forms alternately within the retort. A further object is to provide means for operating the door and for securing it'in its closed position independently of the steam pressure within the retort. Still an- 2 other object is to provide a fabric setting retort having a reversible form carrying door of the type referred to wherein means are provided for limiting the temperature rise of the side of the door which is exposed to the steam in the retort and position for initiating a sequence of operationsduring which the steam is admitted to the retort for a predetermined'interval, a steam outlet valve is then opened, and the steam then exhausted from the retort in readiness for the opening of the door. Other objects relate to various features of construction and arrangement of the apparatus whichwill appear more fully hereinafter.

The nature of the invention will be understood from the following specification taken with the accompanying drawings in which one embodiment thereof is illustrated. In the drawings,

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the set- I ting apparatus with the door of the retort in its closed position;

Fig. 2 shows a vertical section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows a vertical section on the line 3'-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the front of the retort showing one of the door operating handles and latches and the switch actuated by the door for initiating the treating cycle;

Fig. 5 shows a horizontal section on the linev 5+5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 shows a horizontalsection on the .line 6-6 of Fig. 1;

. Fig. 7 shows a horizontal section on the line' 1-1 of Fig; 3, showing by full lines the door in its closed position and by dotted lines the door when it has been opened but before it has been reversed by turning it about its own axis, thepreboarding forms being omitted;

Fig. 8 showsa side elevation of one of the solenoid operated valves for controlling the flow of steam;

Fig. 9 is a horizontal section lik that of Fig. 7 showing by full lines the position "of the door after it has moved further inward from-the position illustratedby dotted lines in Fig. 7 and, by dotted lines, the position of the door after it has been partially reversed by turning about its own axis, the preboarding forms being omitted;

Fig. shows, on a reduced scale. a top plan view of the retort and of the hydraulic connections and controlling devices for controlling the flow of steam to and from the retort;

Fig. 11 shows an enlarged vertical section through the outer portion of the cabinet which is shown attached to the right-hand portion of the retort in Fig. 1, illustrating the controlling and timing devices of the electric circuit by which the cycle of treating operations is controlled; and

Fig. 12 shows a schematic diagram of the electric circuit by which the cycle ofoperations is controlled.

As illustrated in the drawings, the invention comprises a retort I5 which is generally upright in form as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and curved in horizontal cross section in its rear part with a flat vertical front face, as illustrated in Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 9. This retort has a hollow base l5 adapted to rest upon a floor ill or other support and this base has mounted thereon a bottom plate i8 upon which are mounted the inner shell l9 and the outer shell 28 of the rear and side portions of the retort walls. The inner shell I9 is formed of comparatively heavy metal and the two shells are spaced apart by transverse division members 2| which are united to the shells at their edges. The spaces between the shells and between the division members are filled with heat insulating material 22, The upper end of the chamber 24 of the retort is closed by an inner top wall 25 and the upper end of the outer shell 28 is closed by an outer top wall 25. The outer shell i9 is preferably welded to the bottom plate l8 and to the top wall 25. The front wall 21 of the retort is formed as a heavy metal plate which is bolted or otherwise secured to the adjacent division walls 2| from which it is separated by gaskets 28. At the left-hand side of the retort, as viewed in Figs. 1, 5, 6, 7 and 9, the outer shell 20 is extended over the edge of the front plate 21 and inwardly across the face of that plate as shown at 2|! and the extremity of this edge portion is bent inwardly at right angles to the plate 21 as shown at 2ll with its edge transversely bent and secured to the plate 21, thus forming an air chamber 29 which serves as a heat insulator for this portion of the front wall of the retort. Similarly, at the right-hand side of the front wall of the retort, as shown in Figs. 1, 5, 6, 7 and 9, the outer shell 28 is projected forwardly beyond the wall 21 and is then bent transversely inward as shown at 28 and thence inwardly as shown at- 20, with-its edge united to the plate 21, thus forming another vertical air chamber 30 along the right-hand forward edge of the front wall of the retort. v

High temperature steam' is introduced under pressure into the chamber 24 of the retort through an inlet pipe 3f which leads through the bottom wall l8, as shown in Fig. 3, this pipe opening beneath a false bottom or distributor plate 32 which is spaced upwardly'from the bottom wall l8 by supporting brackets 34 and which has its marginal edges spaced from the adjacent inner walls of the chamber 24 so that the steam introduced through the pipe 3| is distributed by the plate 32 and caused to pass upwardly around all of the edges of this plate to effect thereby amore even distribution of the steam throughout the treating chamber. A drainage pipe 35 for the condensate which collects within the chamber 24 leads outwardly through the bottom wall l8 which is sloped downwardly to this outlet, as illustrated in Fig. 3. A steam outlet pipe 88 leads through the top walls 25 and 26, as shown in Fig. 2, and i an exhaust pipe 31, connected to the suction aD- paratus hereinafter described, also communicates with the upper part of the chamber 24 through the rear portions of the inner and outer shells, as shown in Fig. 2. The upper part of the chamber 24 also has an outlet through a pipe 38, shown in Fig. 3, which leads through the inner and outer shells and is connected to pressure relief valves 38 and a pressure gauge 48, shown in Fig. 1. A baflle plate 4| extends inwardly from a point Just below the mouth of the pipe 38 with its inner end connected to a bracket 42 carried by the top wall 25 so that hot condensate collecting at the top of the chamber 24 will not drop onto the hands of the operator during the process of reversing the position of the door. A thermometer 44 is also connected to the upper part of the chamber 24 at the side opposite the pipe 38, as illustrated in Fig. 1, to indicate the steam temperature therein.

The front plate 21 of the retort is provided with an upright rectangular door opening 2'! which is adapted to be closed by a door 45 having the pivotal and bodily movements heretofore referred to. This door has mounted on the inner and outer sides thereof two series of upright boardin forms 46 which in this case are shown as forms for use in the setting of ladies hosiery. The forms are adapted to be tilted away from the body of the door when they are on the outside of the retort, as shown at 46 in Fig. 2, to permit the removal of hosiery thereon and the replacement of hosiery which is to be treated, while, in the meantime, the other forms 48 on the inside of the retort are subjected to the wet steam treatment heretofore mentioned. These forms 46 are mounted on the door 45 for pivotal movement outwardly therefrom in much the same manner as that illustrated in connection with the forms shown in the UnitedStates patent to Leslie H. Oswald et al., No. 2,351,063, dated June 13, 1944. For this purpose, supporting frames 48 are secured to the opposite faces of the door adjacent the bottom thereof, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, there being two such frames on each side of the door. The frames of each pair carry two transverse rods 49 and 50, the former of which is adapted to be engaged by the bifurcated lower extremities of the brackets 5| upon which the forms 45 are mounted The brackets 5| are spaced apart by collars 52 on the rod 49 and.

- when they are swung outwardly as shown at 46 in Fig. 2, their outward movement is limited by the engagement with the rod of hook-shaped rearwardly extending extremities 5| formed on these brackets. The frames 48 of each pair are also connected at their upper margins by a transverse rod or bolt 54 and at each side of each series of forms 46 a heat retaining plate 55 is mounted on the frame 48 to extend upwardly therefrom at the sides of the endmost forms 48 of the series. These plates have the function of maintaining the temperatures of the endmost forms 46 which otherwise tend to drop below the temperatures of the intervening forms of the series when the forms are in the retort, thus insuring a uniform degree of digress of all of the articles of hosiery on a set of forms when that set is moved to the outside of the retort. The frames 48 of each pair also carry horizontally extending guard rails 58 which project outwardly opposite the brackets 5| of the adjacentforms 45 for the purpose of di- I door opening.

recting the movement of the door during its rotation. as hereinafter described.

As shown particularly in Figs. 2, 3 and 6, the door 45 consists of a solid rectangular sheet of heavy steel boiler plate of substantial thickness, for example 1 inches thick or more, and this plate is provided along its marginal edges on both sides thereof with rubber sealing flanges 51 which are adapted to engage the edges of the plate 21.

around the door opening 2'! to form a fluid-tight seal when. the door is closed, this seal being rendered more effective by the steam within the chamber 21 of the retort. The sealing members 5'! are secured in place by metal strips 58 which are secured to the edges of the door proper and by other strips 59 which are secured to the faces of the door. The door also comprises two thin stainless steel plates 68 which aresecured to the opposite faces thereof and which cover the entire area of the door inside the metal strips 59. These sheets 60 are loosely attached to the door so that they form air spaces on their inner sides adjacent the surfaces of the heavy metal plate of'which the body of the door is formed, thus limiting the temperature rise of this heavy metal plate on the side thereof which is exposed to the steam in the chamber 24 so that when the door is reversed and the hot side 'of the door is exposed on the outside of the retort, the temperature of the door will be less objectionable to the operator who is changing the hosiery on the forms 45 on the outside of the door. On each side of the door, adjacent its upper extremity, there is mounted a hollow shell or receptacle 6| which is adapted to catch the condensate which collects on the upper wall of the chamber 24 so that this condensate will not drop onto the hosiery carried by the forms which are within the chamber and cause injury to the hosiery or other articles which would otherwise occur due to thedropping of this condensate on them, particularly if they are dyed.

The door 45 is supported by two arms 64 and 85 which are secured upon a vertical shaft 66 mounted within the chamber 24 at the side of .the The door is provided at its lower end with an axially located stub shaft 61 which is fixed in a'hub or socket 68 welded or otherwise secured to the lower edge of the door, The stub shaft engages a bearing formed in the extremity 64 of the arm '64 and an anti-friction thrust bearing 69 is interposed between the extremity able about its own axis of rotation formed by the stub shafts or trunnions 81 and I0, and at the same time the door is movable bodily toward and from its closed position by the movement of the arms 84 and 85 and the corresponding rotation of the shaft 88 in its bearings.

The movements of the door which have just been referred to ar ffected manually after the supply of steam has been shut off and the steam in the chamber 24 has been exhausted. For convenience in performing this manual operation and also to permit the door to be latched in its closed position independently of the" steam pressure on the inside of the retort. so that the attendant can work on the forms on the outside of the door without pushing the door inwardly, even though the steam pressure is relieved, the door is provided with combination handles and latch devices which are illustrated particularly in Figs. 1, 2 and 4. Each of these devices comprises a handle 80 carried by an arm 80 which is formed integrally with or welded to a plate 8| secured to the face of the door 45 by studs 82. Each plate 8| carries an outwardly extending bar 84 upon which a latch member 85 is pivoted by means of a pin 86. Each latch member has a depending shoulder'85 adapted to'drop down on the forward side of a bar 81 which is secured to the 64 and the hub 68 to carry the weight of the door and the objects mounted on the door. At its upper end the door is provided with another axially located shaft 10 fixed in a hub or socket H which is welded or otherwise secured to the upper edge of the door. The stub shaft 10 engages a bearing in the hub portion Bi: formed at the end of the arm 65. Both of the arms 84 and 65 are secured on the shaft 66 which is arranged with its lower end extending into a hub or socket member 12 secured to the bottom wall it! of the retort. An anti-thrust bearing 14 is interposed between the socket or bearing member 12 and the hub portion 64 which is formed on the inner end of the arm 64 for engagement by the shaft 86 so that the weight of the arm 54 and the door is transmitted to the thrust bearing 14. Between the two arms 64 and '65. the shaft 65 is supported laterally by roller bearing units 16 in which the shaft is journaled and which are secured to bearing brackets 11, also welded or otherwise secured to the portion of the inner shell 28. In this way,

7 the door 45 is supported so that it is freely movfront plate 21 of the retort at the side of the door opening and which projects outwardly beyond the edge of the door opening as shown in Fig. 4. The latch member will drop by gravity to engage the bar 81 when the door is fully closed and when it is desired to release the door to permit its inward movement, the latch members 85 are elevated by means'of links 88 which are connected to pins 88 extending from the latch members through slots 84 whichare formed in the bars 84. The links 88 are operated by levers or triggers 89 pivoted at 98 on the arms 88*. Portions of these triggers .89 are located in proximity to the upper ends of the handles for engagement by the thumbs of the operator so that both latch members may be released simultaneously and the door may then be swung inwardly by pushing on the handles and caused to partake of the bodily movement and the rotary movement heretofore described.

For the purpose of guiding the door 45 in its movements, there is provided a guide member 9! formed from a flat bar which is attached to the plate 21 at the bottom of thedoor opening 21 with its ends extending parallel to the plane of the plate 21 to which they are attached. Adjacent the left-hand side of the door opening as viewed in Figs. 1, 3, 7 and 9, the guide member 9! is bent to form an outwardly extending loop 9| and at the right-hand inner margin of this loop,

is curved laterally as shown at Si so that a roller 82 may be directed into engagement with the loop portion when the door is moved forwardly. This guide member is adapted to be engaged by either one of two rollers 92 each of which is mounted at the outer end of an arm 94. One of these arms 84 is secured to each face of the door 45 in such a position that one of these arms will project outwardly through the left-hand lower portion of the door opening, whichever face of the door is directed outwardly. As the door 45 is moved forwardly from the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. '7, one of the rollers 92 passes into engagement with the loop portion 9 I of the guide member so that the door is guided and held against rotation about its own axis as it moves from the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. '1 to the position shown by full lines in that figure. When the door is pushed inward slightly further than the position illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. '7, the forward roller 92 passes out of engagement with the loop portion 9 I of the guide member and is then free to travel along the curved portion 9| of this guide member as the reversal of the door by rotation about its own axis is begun, as illustrated by full lines in Fig. 9.

In addition to the foregoing guiding means located at the bottom of the door opening, a roller 95 is mounted in a bracket 96 at the left-hand side of the door opening, as viewed in Figs. 7 and g 9, for engagement with the guard members 56 which have previously been described as being attached to opposite sides of the door 45 to extend on the outer sides of the: brackets 5! upon which the forms 46 are mounted. The outer curved portions 56 of these guard members are concentric with the axis of rotation of the door 45 about its own axis and when this rotation is imparted to the door, one or the other of these guard members 56 engages the roller v95 so that the door is freely rotatable and during this rotation the forms are kept out of contact with the inner walls of the retort chamber.

Other guarding means are provided at the top of the retort by a substantially semi-circular guide member 91 which is attached to brackets 98 carried by the inner top plate 25 of the retort and which occupies a position in a horizontal plane slightly above the upper edge of the door 45. The

door is provided adjacent the extremities of its top edge with two rollers 99, mounted on trunnions Hill, which are adapted to engage the guide member 91 for guiding the door while its position is being reversed within the retort. After the door has been released in the position shown'by full lines in Fig. '7 and has been pushed inwardly to a position somewhat beyond that illustrated by dotted lines in that figure, the door is then rotated about its axis and during this rotation one or the other of the rollers 99 travels on the outer convex side of the guide member 91 as shown in Fig. 9 where the door in the position illustrated by full lines is shown as having oneoi the rollers 99 engaging an intermediate portion of this guide member. After that roller has passed out of .engagement with the guide member 91 as shown bydotted lines at the rear of Fig. 9, the rotation of the door about its own axis may be completed with the other roller 99 then passing on the outside of the guide member 91 and, when the door has been completely reversed in its position, it may then be swung'forwardly to the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. '7 where one of the rollers 92, carried by an arm 94, is just engaging the outwardly projecting loop portion 91 of the guide member 9|. The operator then pullsthe door forwardly by engaging the handles 80 which are on the outside of the door until the latch members 85 engage the bars 81.

In order'to reduce the temperature of the atmosphere in the space occupied by the operator while removing the treated articles from the forms and replacing them with untreated articles, means are provided for circulating cool air toward the operator's position.

the right-hand portion of the bottom of the re- This is effected by a sheet metal air chamber I0! which extends along tort beneath the door opening and which extends beyond the right-hand side of the retort as shown in Figs. 1 and 5. This air chamber NH has an inlet opening illla opening rearwardly at the side of the retort and an air circulating motor i0! is mounted on the side of the retort rearwardly 0! this opening with its air circulating tan I02 mounted within the extension of the air chamber inside of the inlet opening m When the apparatus is in operation. this motor N12 is actuated to draw air into the chamber llll and to discharge it through a slot llll which is formed in the upper forward part of the chamber as shown in Fig. 1 and which directs the cool air upwardly toward the operator's position.

The means for introducing steam into the chamber 24 of the retort and for exhausting it therefrom is illustrated somewhat diagrammatically in Fig. 10. As there shown, the previously mentioned steam inlet pipe 3|, also shown in Fig. 3, leads from a steam supply pipe I05 through a shutoff valve I05, a strainer I05, a pressure regulator I01, and a solenoid operated valve 08 to the place where it opens through the bottom plate l8 of the retort as previously described to discharge steam into the chamber 24 of the retort at the proper times during the cycles of operation of the apparatus. The pressure regulator I0! is provided with the usual lever ill! on which adjustable weights lll'l are mounted for regulating the pressure of the steam within the chamber of the retort so that it will have the desired value, usually between 15 and 35 pounds per square inch. The drain pipe 35, also shown in Fig. 3, leads from the center of the bottom plate l8 of the retort, as previously described, and communicates with a larger pipe H0 which extends to the sewer or other place of drainage disposal.

The outlet pipe 36, which leads through the top of the retort as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, has a check valve 1 I i connected therein and it is provided for allowing the escape of air during the period that steam is being introduced into the chamber 24 of the retort. This check valve lli is thermostatically controlled and automatically closes when the air has been discharged and the space within the retort is occupied entirel by steam.

The exhaust pipe 31, illustrated in Fig. 2, is shown in Fig. 10 as leading from the rear upper part of the retort through a solenoid operated valve H2 which is controlled electrically in the manner hereinafter described, and the pipe 31 then leads through an elbow-like siphon member lM from which it extends horizontally for discharging the steam exhausted from the retort after each training operation. For the purpose of creating suction for withdrawing the steam, the siphon member H4 has connected horizontally therein a small steam jet pipe H5 which leads through a solenoid operated valve H6 and a strainer H! from an elbow H8 by which a connection is established between this smaller steam pipe and the steam supply pipe 3| through which live steam is introduced into the retort. It will be noted that the elbow H8 is connected in the pipe 3| between the strainer I06 and the pressure regulator I01 so that steam is supplied to the siphon member H4 at boiler pressure and not at the pressure which is maintained in the retort. The effect of the discharging steam in the pipe 31 is to'create a suction in the siphon member H4 and in the portion 01 the pipe 31 between the retort and the member ill so that the steam in the chamber of the retort is thereby exhausted when the solenoid operated exhaust valve II 2 is open.

The solenoid operated valves I08, H2 and H6 may be of the same general construction, differing from each other only withrespect to the fact of being normally open or normally closed. These valves may be of a type well known in the' art, such as the.valve manufactured and sold by Automatic Switch Company of New York, New York. In Fig. 8 the solenoid operated valve I08 is shown in side elevation and is illustrated as comprising a casing I08 having mounted therein a solenoid surrounding a magnetizable plunger I 08 which is connected at its lower end to a lever I08 pivoted at I08 on the valve frame. This valve is normally closed by the action of a coil spring I 08 but when the solenoidz-is energized, it is opened against the tension of he spring in response to the upward movement i the lever I, thereby admitting steam to the" retort. The solenoid operated valve H2 is normally open but is adapted to be closed at the same time that the valve I08 is opened, thereby closing the exhaust channel during the time that steam is be ing admitted. The solenoid operated valve I I6 in the siphon line is also normally closed but, at the conclusion of the heat treating operation, this valve is opened at the time that the solenoid operated valve I I2 is opened by the damergization of its solenoid so that the opening of the valve I I6 is eifected to create a suction in the exhaust line when the valve' H2 is opened.

The electrical system for controlling the solenoid operated valves I08, H2 and H6 and other parts of the apparatus are illustrated particularly in Figs. 11 and 12. In Fig. 11 there is shown a vertical section through the outer portion of a control cabinet I20 which is mounted on the upper right-hand portion of the outer wall of the retort, as illustrated in Fig. 1. The supply conductors I2I, connected with a source of alternating current, lead through a fuse block I22 to a manually operated switch I24 mounted on the inside of the front end wall of the cabinet and having an operating member I24 projecting through an opening in the cabinet for engagement by the fingers of the operator who closes this switch preliminary to putting the apparatus in operation. In the lower left-hand part oi the cabinet there is mounted a casing I25 containing two clock-driven timers I26 and I21. The timer I20 is adapted to be adjusted to control the period during which steam is admitted to the retort after the temperature within the retort has risen to a predetermined degree following the initial introduction of steam into the chamber 24 and it bears on its face a series of graduations I26 adjacent which a pointer I26 is adapted to move. This pointer may be set through the operation of a handle I26 to cause the steam to be introduced through a predetermined interval after the predetermined temperature has been attained and, at the end of that period, the clock mechanism operates this timer to control the circuit for shutting oil the flow of steam and, at the conclusion of the cycle, the pointer I26 is restored to its zero position in readiness for another cycle of operations. The other timer I21-is provided for the purpose of regulating the period during which steam is exhausted from the retort following each heat :treating operation. This timer also has a series of graduations I21 adjacent which a pointer I21 is adapted to move and this pointer may be adjusted to a predetermined position by a handle I2'Ic for setting the duration of the exhaust period. At the end of the cycle, the pointerv I21 is again restored to its set position by the action of the internal mechanism of the timer, in readiness for another cycle of operations. There is mounted in the casing I25 a manually operated switch I28 which is connected in the circuit of the previously described fan motor I02 by which air is caused to be directed toward the operator's position while the apparatus is in operation. The cabinet I20 also contains a terminal block I29 having thereon terminal posts for convenience in making electrical connections between the different parts'oi the apparatus and in the central portion of the cabinet there are mounted two electromagnetic switches I30 and I3 I, the operation of which is controlled by the timers in the manner hereinafter described. In the lower right-hand corner of the cabinet I20 and connected in the electric circuit is a heat control switch I32 which has a thermostatic portion extending'into the chamber of the retort and which may be adjusted for a predetermined setting by a rotary adjust ing member I32 bearing graduations which may bepositioned with respect to an index mark to indicate and determine the temperature at which the circuit will be made effective to operate the timer I26 for controlling the duration of the further flow of steam into the retort.

The circuit connections of the various devices shown in Figs. 10 and 11 are illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 12. This circuit includes a door operated switch I34 which is illustrated in Fig. 4 as being mounted at the right-hand side of the door opening on the front plate 21 of the retort.-

The door 46 carries two actuating pins I35 mounted on opposite edges of the door so that when the door is in either fully closed position, one of these pins will engage the operating member of the switch I 34 and close the circuit, thus initiating the cycle of operations hereinafter described.

' The circuit also includes a door operated switch I36 which is mounted on the front plate 21 of the retort below the switch I34, as shown inFig. 4, for the purpose of closing the circuit of the fan motor I02 when the door 45 is fully closed and under steam pressure. This switch has an actuating member which is operated by a pin I31 projecting from the face of the door 45. One of these pins I31 is provided on each side of the door so that .when the door is reversed in position a pin will be in the proper location to engage the actuating member I36 and thereby close the switch I36. The adjustment of the switch I36 is preferably such that when the steam pressure in the retort is released and the door 45 moves in slightly, due to the expansion of the rubber strips 51 along the edges of the door, the switch I36 will be opened thereby discontinuing the operation of the fan motor I02.

When the door 46 is closed by the operator, the switch I34 is thereby closed and this completes the circuit from one of the supply conductors I2I through the conductor I30, the switch I34, the conductor I39 and the conductor I40 to the switch arm I4I of the timer I26. This arm is then in its upper position engaging its upper contact which leads through the conductor I42 and the conductor I 44 to the solenoid I30 of the electromagnetic switch I30. The other terminal of this solenoid is connected through the conductor I46 and the conductor I41 to the other supply conductor I2I. The circuit is ,thus

completed to energize the electromagnetic switch,

I30 with the result that the double pole contact 11 member I30 thereof is actuated to connect the contacts I48 also the contacts I49.' The closing oi? these contacts provides a direct connection from the supply conductors I2 I through the conductors I41 and I50 and the conductors I5I and I52, respectively, to the terminals of the solenoid operated valves I08 and H2 which are connected in parallel, as illustrated diagrammatically in the upper part of Fig. 12. As these solenoid operated valves are simultaneously energized, steam is admitted through the supply pipe SI and the open valve I08 to the bottom of the chamber 24 of the retort and the steam then flows into this chamber while, at the same time, the air in the chamber flows out through the vent pipe 36 until the temperature within the chamber is sufiicient to close the automatic check valve III. The steam will continue to flow into the chamber and the temperature will rise until, at a predetermined degree, the thermostatic heat control valve I32 is automatically closed by the action of its thermostatic element. The closing of this switch I32 establishe a connection from one supply conductor I2I through the conductor I41, the upper contact I48, the conductor I54, the,switch I32, the conductor I55, the motor I56 of the timer I26, the conductor I51, the conductor I58, the switch arm IIII, the conductor I40, the conductor I33, the switch I34 and the conductor (36 to the other supply conductor I2I. The motor I56 of the timer I26 is thus started in operation and the timer, controlled by its clock mechanism, measures the interval during which the steam will continue to flow into the retort, this interval being determined by the initial setting of the pointer I26 of the timer. As the motor I56 continues to operate, the pointer I 26 will move steadily toward its zero position and when it reaches that position the switch I4I of the timer automatically drops into engagement with its lower contact and the motor I56 is stopped, thereby terminating the heat treating period.

The engagement of the switch arm I4I of the timer I26 with its lower contacts establishes a circuit from the conductor I38, switch I34, conductor I39, conductor I40 and switch arm I4I through the conductor I60 which leads to one terminal of the solenoid I3I oi the electromagnetic switch I3I. The energization of this solenoid actuates the double pole switch member I 3| of this switch to connect the contacts I6I thereby establishing a connection from the previously mentioned conductor I through the conductor I62, contacts I61 and conductor I64 to the conductor I41 which is connected to the upper supply conductor I2I. There is thus antomatically, established a shunt connection around the thermostatic heat controlvalve I32 so that this part of the circuit is maintained even v the switch arm I of the timer I26 with its lower contact also establishes a connection through the conductor I and the conductor I65 to the movable switch arm I66 of the: siphon timer I21. This switch arm is'then in its upper position as shown in Fig. 12 so that a connection is established from its upper contact through the conductors I61, I68 and I63, to one terminal of the solenoid operated valve H6 which controls the siphon line. The other terminal of this valve H6 is connected through aconductor I10 to the other supply conductor PM. The siphon valve H6 is thereby opened and steam drawn from the supply line 3I flows through the siphon pipe H5 and creates a suction which causes steam to be withdrawn through the exhaust line 31, the solenoid operated exhaust valve H2 having been opened at the same time that the inlet valve I08 was closed by the opening of its circuit upon the dropping of the switch arm I4I.

At the same time that the siphon valve I I6 is opened, by the dropping of the switch arm Idl, the circuit is closed through the motor I1I of the siphon timer I21, this circuit leading from the conductor I 65 through the reset relay coil I12 and the conductor I14 through the motor Ill, to the conductor I68. Upon establishing the circuit of the motor I1 I, this motor begins to operate under the control of the clock mechanism of the timer with the result that the pointer I21 of this timer moves steadily toward its zero position from its initial setting which determines the duration of the exhaust period. At the end of that period, when all of the steam has been withdrawn from the chamber 24 of the retort, the clock mechanism of the timer causes the switch arm I66 to drop to its lower contact thereby opening the circuit of the solenoid operated siphon valve H6 which is then actuated by its spring to move to its closed position. Although a circuit is still established through the motor "I of the timer I21, the high resistance of the winding I12 of the relay will prevent the operation of the motor when the switch arm I66 is in its open position. The exhaust period is thus automatically terminated and the steam having been removed from the interior of the retort, the operator who has placed a new set of hosiery on the forms on the outside of the door may open the door and prepare to reverse the position of the door in order to bring to the outer side thereof the forms carrying the hosiery which have just been treated in the chamher. When the exhaust periodhas ended, that fact will be indicated to the operator by the ab= sence'of any noise or suction within the chamber as well as by the slight inward movement of the door in response to the release of the steam pressure on its inner side and the latches may then be released by manipulating the triggers 89 so that the door may be pushed inwardly to allow the door operated switch I34 to open. When this switch is opened, the switch arms MI and I66 are automatically restored to their normal upper positions, as shown in Fig. 12, by the action of the reset relays I12 and I13, in readiness for another cycle of operations. When the solenoids I30 and I3I of the electromagnetic switches I30 and I3I, respectively, are deenergized by the opening of their circuits, the switch contact members I30 and I3I are automatically moved to their open positions by spring pressure or the like.

During the heat treating period which occupies the first part of the cycle of operations just described, the door operated switch I36 is closed, thereby establishing a connection from one supply conductor I2I through conductors I36 and I15 to one terminal of the fan motor I02 and thence from the other terminal of that fan motor through the conductor I16, the conductor I11, the door operated switch I36, the conductor I16, the manually operated switch I26, and the conductors I54 and I41 to the other line conductor I2I. The manual switch having been closed at the beginning of the operations, the closing of the door thus establishes the circuit of the fan motor I02 which will continue to operate throughout the 13 heat treating period, thus causing cool air to be discharged in the direction of the position occupied by the attendant in front of the retort. Following the. conclusin of the heat treating period and as soon as the exhaust portion of the cycle has relieved the steam pressure within the chamber sufficiently to permit the door 45 to move inwardly to a slight extent due to the expansion of the rubber strips 51, the switch I36 is automatically opened so that the fan motor I02 does not operate during the remainder of the cycle.

Although one form of the invention has been shown and described by way of illustration, it will be understood that it may be constructed in various other embodiments which come within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination in setting apparatus of the class described, of a retort having a door opening, a reversible door located at all times within the retort for closing said opening with either face of the door directed outwardly, and forms mounted on both faces of said door for supporting textile articles.

2. The combination in setting apparatus of the class described, of a retort having a door opening, a door for closing said opening, means for 14 said retort for engaging saidseat to close said opening, a support for said door mounted to swing about a vertical axis, means for permitting rotation of said door on said support, and forms mounted on both faces of said door for supporting, textile articles.

9. The combination in setting apparatus of the class described, of a retort having a door opening and a door seat on its inner side around said opening, a door movable within said retort against said seat, an upright shaft journalled in bearings within said retort, and arms fixed on said shaft and pivotally connected to the upper and lower ends of said door.

10. The combination in setting apparatus of the class described, of a retort having a door opening and a door seat on its inner side around said opening, a door movable within said retort against said seat, an upright shaft journalled in bearings within said retort, arms fixed on said shaft and pivotally connected to the upper and lower ends of said door, and forms mounted on both faces of said door for supporting textile articles. I

. opening and a door seat on its inner side around mounting said door to permit bodily movement and pivotal movement thereof within the retort whereby said door may be reversed in position to cause either face thereof to be directed outwardly. and forms mounted on both sides of said door for supporting textile articles.

3. The combination in setting apparatus of the class described, of a. retort having a door opening, an inwardly movable door for closing said opening, means for mounting said door to permit movement thereof bodily inward from said opening and to permit rotation thereof about a vertical axis, and forms mounted on both faces of said door for supporting textile articles,

4. The combination in setting apparatus of the class described, of a retort having a door opening and a door seat around said opening on the inside of the retort, and means for mounting said door to allow it to be reversed within said retort to cause either door face to engage said seat.

5. The combination in setting apparatus of the class described, of a retort having a. door opening and a door seat around said opening on the inside of the retort, means for mounting said door to allow it to be reversed within said retort to cause either door face to engage said seat, and forms mounted on both faces of said door for supporting textile articles.

6. The combination in setting apparatus of the class described, of a retort having a door opening, a reversible door for closing said opening with either face of the door directed outwardly, forms mounted on both faces of said door for supporting textile articles, and means for mounting said forms to permit independent movements thereof with respect to said door.

7. The combination in setting apparatus of the class described, of an upright retort having avertical door opening and a door seat on its inner side around said opening, a door located within said retort for engaging said seat to close said opening, a support for said door mounted to swing about a vertical axis, and means for permitting rotation of said door on said support.

8. The combination in setting apparatus of the class described, of an upright reteort having a vertical door opening and a'door seat on its inner side around said opening, a door located within said opening, a door movable within said retort against said seat, means for admitting steam to said retort, the pressure of said steam being adapted to force said door against said seat, and means for securing said door in closed position independently of said steam pressure.

12. The combination in setting apparatus of the class described, of a retort having a door opening and a door seat on its inner side around said opening, a door movable within said retort against said seat, forms mounted on both faces of said door for supporting textile articles, means for mounting said door to permit either face thereof to be presented outwardly, means for admitting steam to said retort, the pressure of said steam being adapted to hold said door against said seat, and means including latches mounted on both faces of said door for securing said door in closed position independently of said steam pressure.

13. The combination in setting apparatus of the class described, of'a retort having a door opening and a door seat on its inner side around said opening, a door for closing said opening, means for mounting said door for reversal thereof whereby either face of said door may be presented outwardly at said opening, forms mounted on both faces of said door for supporting textile articles, and sealing means on both faces of said door for engaging said seat.

14. The combination in setting apparatus of the class described, of a retort having a door opening and a door seat on its inner side around said opening, a door for closing said opening, means for mounting said door for reversal thereof whereby either face of said door may be presented outwardly at said opening, forms mounted on both faces of said door for supporting textile articles, means forming an air chamber outside of said retort adjacent said door, said chamber having an opening directed toward the area in front of said door, and means for discharging air through said opening.

15. The combination in setting apparatus of the class described, of a retort having a door opening and a door seat on its inner side around said opening, a door for closing said opening, means for mounting said door for reversal thereof whereby either face of said door may be presented outwardly at said opening, forms mounted on both faces of said door for supporting textile articles, and thin metal plates mounted loosely on each face of said door behind said forms.

16. The combination in setting apparatus of the class described, of a retort having a door opening and a door seat on its inner side around said opening, a door movable against said seat to close said opening, means for reversing said door to causeeither face thereof to engage said seat, forms mounted on said door for supporting textile articles within said retort, means for admitting steam to said retort, and means actuated by the movement of said door for controlling the fiow of steam to said retort.

17. The combination in setting apparatus of the class described, of a retort having a door opening and a door seat on its inner side around said opening, a door movable ag-ains aid seat to close said opening, means for reversing said door to cause either face thereof to engage said seat, forms mounted on said door for supporting textile articles within said retort, means for admitting steam to said retort, and means actuated by the movement of said door for controlling the flow of cool air to the space outside of said retort opposite said door.

18. The combination in setting apparatus of the class described, of a retort having a door opening and a door seat on its inner side around said opening, a door movable against said seat to close said opening, means for reversing said door to cause either face thereof to engage said seat, forms mounted on said door for supporting textile articles within said retort, means for admitting steam to said retort, means for exhausting steam from said retort, and means including an electric circuit having timing devices connected therein for controlling the duration of the steam admission and exhaust periods.

19. The combination in setting apparatus of the class described, of a retort having a door opening andt a door seat on its inner side around said opening, a door movable against said seat to close said opening, means for reversing said door to cause either face thereof to engage said seat, forms mounted on said door for supporting textile articles within said retort, means for admitting steam to said retort, means for exhausting steam from said retort, means actuated by the closing of said door for causing steam to flow into said retort, and means actuated when the temperature in the retort reaches a predetermined degree for determining the duration thereafter of said flow of steam into said retort.

20. The combination in setting apparatus of the class described, of a retort having a door opening and a door seat on its inner side around said opening, a door movable against said seat to close said opening, means for reversing said door to cause either face thereof to engage said seat, forms mounted on said door for supporting textile articles within said retort, means for admitting steam to said retort, means for exhausting steam from said retort, means actuated by the closing of said door for causing steam to flow into said retort, means actuated when the temperature in the retort reaches a predetermined degree for determining the duration thereafter of said flow of steam into said retort, and means actuated upon the stoppage of the flow of steam to said retort for exhausting steam from said retort by said exhausting means.

21. The combination in setting apparatus of the class described, of an upright retort having a vertical door opening, a door located within said retort for closing said opening, means for mounting said door to permit bodily movement thereof and rotation thereof on a vertical axis within said retort whereby either face of the door may be presented outwardly when the door is closing said opening, and forms mounted on both faces of said door for supporting textile articles.

HENRY RICHTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Oswald et a1 June 13, 1944 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,451,978. October 19, 1948.

HENRY RICHTER It is hereby certified that errors appear in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 1, line 11, after March 6, 1945, strike out now abandoned,; column 13; line 73, claim 8, for reteort read retort;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 15th day of March, A. D. 1949.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant G'ommissioner of Patents. 

